Brush handle



Jan. 28, 1941.' T, MEESKE I Q 2,229,564

BRUSH HANDLE Filed July 11, 1939 4 I [/V VEzVTOR zww BY A TVTORNE Patented Jan. 28, 1941 PATENT OFFICE BRUSH HANDLE Edna T. Meeske, Muskegon, Mich.,

Application July 11, 1939, Serial No. 283,751

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to toothbrush handles and more particularly to a design of brush handle which is adapted,for use with two groups of tufts for alternate use.

The chief object is to provide a toothbrush in which a single handle serves for two groups of tufts, the groups of bristles being so arranged that the moisture from one will not be transmitted to the other.

A further object is to provide a. handle of a shape which will minimize contamination of the bristles and at the same time will be readily serviceable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a brush of this type which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will be practical for use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction, it being understood that various modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the underlying thought or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The various features of the invention are illustrated by way of an example in the accompanying drawing in which similar reference numerals denote similar parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brush made in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the brush shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, two groups of tufts of bristles II are affixed in a conventional manner to the extreme ends of a handle l2. The bristles used may be of animal or vege- 40 table origin or may consist of filaments of synthetic resin which have the advantage of not losing their stiffness due to the absorption of water. The handle may similarly be formed of resin, Celluloid or any other one of the large group of materials which have previously been used for this purpose.

One of the features of the present invention lies in positioning the two groups of bristles on opposite sides of the ends of the handle [2 as shown. This is important for reasons which will become apparent. In cross section, the marginal edges of the handle l2 are provided with raised flutings l3 to form a longitudinal channel on both the front and back surfaces of the handle. Of necessity the bristle side of the end portions of the handle are fiat to provide an adequate depth for the anchorage of the tufts.

It is contemplated that the opposite ends of the brush will be used alternately so that a dry brush will always be available even though the interval elapsing between periods of use is not sufficient for a brush to dry out. After use the wet end of the brush may be hun in either the upper or lower positions. If the wet end is hung down, any drops of moisture which cling to the bristles will of course not contaminate the tufts of the other end, while on the other hand, if the wet end is hung at the top any moisture which runs down the handle will not be able to run around the edges of the handle and thus reach the other group of bristles, because of the fiutings l3 at the edges. It is for this reason that the groups of bristles H are positioned on opposite faces of the handle 12 as previously mentioned. So that the two ends of the brush may be readily differentiated some identifying lettering l4 may be employed or, alternately, the two ends of the handle may be made of materials of contrasting color to prevent confusion.

In order to impart a degree of flexibility to the brush, those portions of the handle which lie between the grip and the bristles may be constricted to form a neck l5. Furthermore, the provision of such-reduced parts permits either end of the brush to be inserted and held in the conventional! type of slotted toothbrush rack. Means are also provided, in this case a pair of holes H5, at each end of the handle l2, intermediate the tufts II and the center portion of the handle for the support of the brush.

As indicated in the drawing the longitudinal center line of the handle approximates two reverse curves laid end to end. The purpose of this is to have the lower brush hang as far away from the wall or other supporting surface as possible. If the handle is straight the ends of the bristles of the lower brush will be much closer to the wall than the back of the upper portion of the handle.

. However, by curving the handle as indicated the tendency is for the weight of the lower bristles to overcome the effect of the weight of the handle and therefore the lower tufts will lie almost directly below the upper, and hence will not be in contact with the wall, avoiding danger of contamination. In addition, the curvature of the handle provides a more natural grip.

From the above description it is thought that the construction of the brush handle will be full understood without further explanation.

What I claim is:

1. A brush handle having a Width greater than its thickness throughout its length, comprising two end portions and a central grip portion, said end portions being located at opposite extremities of said central grip portion and being provided with bristle-retaining means on opposite faces of said end portions, the center line of said central grip portion following two reverse curves in the plane defined by the minor axes of the cross-section of said handle, raised marginal edges on both sides of said central grip portion and terminating on said end portions on the face opposite to that provided with bristle-retaining means, said raised marginal edges being effective to prevent moisture on one face of said handle from reachin the opposite face and dual means for suspending the brush handle so that either end portion may be maintained at a higher elevation than the other.

2. A brush handle, whose width is greater than its thickness at all points along its length, comprising two end portions provided with bristleretaining means, a central grip portion located between said end portions, the center line of said central grip portion following a reverse curve in the plane defined by the minor axes of the crosssection of said handle, raised marginal flutings on both sides of said central grip portion and continuing on said end portions on the face opposite to that provided with bristle-retaining means, said marginal fiutings being effective to prevent moisture on one face of said handle from reaching the opposite face and duplicate means for suspending the brush handle so that either end portion may be maintained at a lower elevation than the other.

EDNA T. MEESKE. 

